Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik isn't waving the white flag yet. He says the AL West is winnable and wants to see how the M's play "in the next couple weeks" before deciding whether to sell.

Every executive Heyman spoke to expects Cliff Lee to choose free agency over an in-season extension, no matter what uniform he's wearing this summer.

The Yankees now seem like the favorites to sign Lee this winter, but could they acquire the lefty during the season? They will call the Mariners in case they like the asking price for Lee, but the Yanks don't seem like a fit.

Bryce Harper will look for a record bonus, according to an NL executive. Heyman's sources say Harper will be aiming for considerably more than $12MM. Stephen Strasburg, who signed for $15.1MM last summer, could be considered a bargain since he has generated lots of excitement (and revenue) in Washington. Harper and agent Scott Boras can point to the buzz around Strasburg in their negotiations with the Nats.

Not entirely true. Let’s say the Nats bring up Harper around June next year (unlikely, but for arguments sake).

Think of the impact in terms of ticket sales based on a player playing every day, vs every 5 days. I’m willing to bet Harper sells out a ton of tickets, not just for his first game, but for a good stretch thereafter.

Position prospects normally don’t sell out games like a pitching prospect does, though. Probably for the reason that he plays everyday, and the chances to see him aren’t as limited. I can see him selling out a few games, but ultimately not as much as Strasburg will. And then, of course, he has more oppurtunity to fail, and he’ll go through stretches where he can’t hit a thing. If he has trouble in his first couple of games (which is highly possible), then some of the hype is lost and some of the fans are too.

Strasburg only got a small percentage of what his free market value would be. He could never get that, of course, because he only had so much leverage. But Harper has much more leverage. Why not try to get closer to that number? Harper isn’t Strasburg, but he’d command several times a record bonus if he were a free agent.

Strasburg’s only option was to go back for his senior year or possibly go to indy league ball, moves that can backfire, especially for a pitcher, who’s much more likely to get injured. Harper has several more years of draft eligibility and much less injury risk. Unless there’s some reason to think he’ll stop hitting, he can just keep getting drafted until a team gives him what he wants. I’m not saying he will, just that he could.

You’re not wrong, but Harper’s more or less changed his entire life to get into baseball as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Nationals need a star far less desperately than they did last year – especially when that star is a couple years development away from the Show anyway, and they can get compensated with another stud next year.

Nothing you’ve said about his open market value is off, I just don’t think he’s in a very dominant negotiating position despite it. Gonna be a dick about it and openly turn down $12 million? Enjoy your wasted year of development, kiddo, essentially playing by yourself.

You’re not wrong, but Harper’s more or less changed his entire life to get into baseball as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Nationals need a star far less desperately than they did last year – especially when that star is a couple years development away from the Show anyway, and they can get compensated with another stud next year.

Nothing you’ve said about his open market value is off, I just don’t think he’s in a very dominant negotiating position despite it. Gonna be a dick about it and openly turn down $12 million? Enjoy your wasted year of development, kiddo, essentially playing by yourself.

Not disagreeing. Both sides need to make this happen. The Nationals can’t afford to get a compensation pick for the number one overall pick and then be forced to take a signability guy because that pick won’t be protected. And Harper has, as you pointed out, done everything to get into pro ball as early as possible (which sounds suspiciously like good ballplayer makeup to me, but that’s another story). Both sides will find the right point, which will be very high, but probably not quite Strasburg high.

Not disagreeing. Both sides need to make this happen. The Nationals can’t afford to get a compensation pick for the number one overall pick and then be forced to take a signability guy because that pick won’t be protected. And Harper has, as you pointed out, done everything to get into pro ball as early as possible (which sounds suspiciously like good ballplayer makeup to me, but that’s another story). Both sides will find the right point, which will be very high, but probably not quite Strasburg high.

I really don’t like the idea of draft choices getting paid this much.. They’ve got as much money as they need before they even put on a major-league uniform. I feel like they don’t even have to worry about how they play in the majors because they’ve already made the big bucks, and I can see this turning into less desire and more busts. A player should have to earn his money in the major leagues, not be given major league money for being a good player in college.

Then you want elite athletes to play other sports. If there were no draft or arbitration rules holding down salaries, these players would actually be making much more on the open market. Giving a couple million dollars to an amateur who looks good to all your scouts and will be under your control cheaply for years is an exponentially better decision than giving a hundred million dollars to a pitcher in his 30s who’s had four good seasons.

Giving a couple million dollars to an amatuer is acceptable. But, they keep getting paid more and more every year. Only in baseball do draft picks get paid this much. I understand the advantages of having a young player opposed to the guy in his 30’s, but at least that guy proved he can succeed at a major league level. Still not saying $100 million is acceptable, but a guy getting $15 million right out of the gate, without even proving that he can pitch at a big league level doesn’t seem too ideal either.

I just think they should earn their cash by showing that their stuff can translate, like it used to be.

1) “Only in baseball do draft picks get paid this much.” That’s not even slightly true. First round football draft picks make much more. Besides, in other sports, these guys immediately make six figure salaries at a minimum, even if they’re buried on the bench. In baseball, if they really stink, their bonus may be the only money they ever make. No one in baseball has ever made nearly as much money as Ryan Leaf or Jamarcus Russell while providing nearly so little value.

2) “I just think they should earn their cash by showing that their stuff can translate.” Then you’re throwing the value of scouts out the window completely and saying that players should only be rewarded for past experience (which is the ethos that makes most big free agent contracts a bad deal for the team). Every scout was sure Strasburg would be a superstar. Almost every scout is sure Harper will be a star. Both performed superbly for their ages and levels of competition. You may have some sort of moral problem with kids getting this kind of money right out of the gate, but teams aren’t stupid to pay it.

As far as your 1st point goes, I worded that statement horribly wrong. Totally my fault, I was trying to compare to non-athletic jobs, in which is case it makes no sense for me to use the term ‘draft choices’. I guess I was thinking one thing an typed another. Either way, that point is non-essential to my argument, and doesn’t make much sense either way. I take it back.

On the second point..

I’m not throwing the value of scouts out of the window completely. They still evaluate who the better player is, and who should be drafted. The only difference is that they won’t have to be worried about signing them because of high demands, because they would be getting paid just the same if a different team drafted them. As far as players being rewarded for past experience: yes, that is what I’m saying. Because he has shown that he can do his job at a major league level. He has earned that money. And I never said that teams are stupid to pay draft choices; because it can definitely pay off, and I would do the same thing if I were in charge of signing these guys. I’m just saying that I don’t like it, and that the draft would do better for baseball if it wasn’t this way.

Yeah, but at least they proved that they CAN do it.. I realize that there’s a whole reverse argument to this, such as that the draft choices have the potential to do it. I guess there’s no fair way to do it, and I’m going to save myself and step out of this debate now. You guys have obviously put more thought into this.. I just wanted to express my feeling on the whole situation.

The reverse argument, just for the record, is that you could sign the top two players in this draft for less than the Phillies have committed to paying Ryan Howard in one year of his late thirties, when all historical evidence suggests players like him are unlikely to be very good then.

The reverse argument, just for the record, is that you could sign the top two players in this draft for less than the Phillies have committed to paying Ryan Howard in one year of his late thirties, when all historical evidence suggests players like him are unlikely to be very good then.

Yeah, but at least they proved that they CAN do it.. I realize that there’s a whole reverse argument to this, such as that the draft choices have the potential to do it. I guess there’s no fair way to do it, and I’m going to save myself and step out of this debate now. You guys have obviously put more thought into this.. I just wanted to express my feeling on the whole situation.

As far as your 1st point goes, I worded that statement horribly wrong. Totally my fault, I was trying to compare to non-athletic jobs, in which is case it makes no sense for me to use the term ‘draft choices’. I guess I was thinking one thing an typed another. Either way, that point is non-essential to my argument, and doesn’t make much sense either way. I take it back.

On the second point..

I’m not throwing the value of scouts out of the window completely. They still evaluate who the better player is, and who should be drafted. The only difference is that they won’t have to be worried about signing them because of high demands, because they would be getting paid just the same if a different team drafted them. As far as players being rewarded for past experience: yes, that is what I’m saying. Because he has shown that he can do his job at a major league level. He has earned that money. And I never said that teams are stupid to pay draft choices; because it can definitely pay off, and I would do the same thing if I were in charge of signing these guys. I’m just saying that I don’t like it, and that the draft would do better for baseball if it wasn’t this way.

Well, if teams don’t like the player’s demand, then they shouldn’t draft him.

Would you like it if I set a cap for your salary? Sure baseball players don’t actually produce anything except entertainment, but they make so much because there is a demand for it.

The other side to it is that the player is forced to deal with only one team. That one team probably isn’t the team he wants to play for. Plus, he probably has to move to a new city and he also has to commit the next 7+ years of his life there. Not to mention that he will make less than if other teams were also allowed to bid. A team like the Yankees would have outbid the Nats 5-fold.

Yes, he makes millions without “proving” anything; however, would you still hate the idea if you were in his shoes? Heck, I’d probably be a little peeved if I couldn’t play for the team I wanted.

I’m not saying that they should never get their fair dues, just that they shouldn’t get it right out the gate. They’ll get paid all the money they want if they prove to be the player that they were drafted to be.

Playing for a team he wants to play for can come in time as well. Sure, he’ll have to spend a fair share of time with the team that he didn’t ‘want’ to play for, but this isn’t playing baseball just for fun; it’s his job. Therefore, he should do his job where ever the team that pays him is. You don’t get promoted to CEO of a business as soon as you graduate college.

Sure, if I was in his shoes I’m all for the money. But if I were in the GM’s shoes I’m all for him proving that he’s going to be worth the money.

“You don’t get promoted to CEO of a business as soon as you graduate college.”

Yes, baseball is a business. However, you forget one thing: players are not only employees, they are also commodities.

If you don’t pay for the talent, someone else will. There is a reason draft picks are very expensive. Again, that reason is demand.

I am of the philosophy that if there is someone out there willing to pay you the money, who the hell am I or anyone else to stop them?

“But if I were in the GM’s shoes I’m all for him proving that he’s going to be worth the money.”

Obviously if you are the buyer, you wan’t the safest option. However, it is the player that is selling his services. Shouldn’t he have options too?

Again, I agree that these draftees are not “proven” but guess what? Teams are still willing to give them deals based on a player’s talent. The draftee will get millions without having a major league AB because an organization is willing to pay him. That is what we call a market economy. Heck, your proposed revision might even be more costly to low revenue teams. Imagine paying the huge incentives when guys perform?

Sometimes life just isn’t fair. I’ve seen plenty of instances in business where a guy gets promoted just because they have the right connections. Does he necessarily deserve it? Maybe not, but as long as someone is willing to pay him, then why not?

In the end, it is up to the organization to evaluate the financial prospects of a draftee. That is the team’s job. Likewise, I don’t buy stocks and then tell my brokerage I will only pay if the stock performs. It just doesn’t work that way.

“You don’t get promoted to CEO of a business as soon as you graduate college.”

Yes, baseball is a business. However, you forget one thing: players are not only employees, they are also commodities.

If you don’t pay for the talent, someone else will. There is a reason draft picks are very expensive. Again, that reason is demand.

I am of the philosophy that if there is someone out there willing to pay you the money, who the hell am I or anyone else to stop them?

“But if I were in the GM’s shoes I’m all for him proving that he’s going to be worth the money.”

Obviously if you are the buyer, you wan’t the safest option. However, it is the player that is selling his services. Shouldn’t he have options too?

Again, I agree that these draftees are not “proven” but guess what? Teams are still willing to give them deals based on a player’s talent. The draftee will get millions without having a major league AB because an organization is willing to pay him. That is what we call a market economy. Heck, your proposed revision might even be more costly to low revenue teams. Imagine paying the huge incentives when guys perform?

Sometimes life just isn’t fair. I’ve seen plenty of instances in business where a guy gets promoted just because they have the right connections. Does he necessarily deserve it? Maybe not, but as long as someone is willing to pay him, then why not?

In the end, it is up to the organization to evaluate the financial prospects of a draftee. That is the team’s job. Likewise, I don’t buy stocks and then tell my brokerage I will only pay if the stock performs. It just doesn’t work that way.

Generally speaking I don’t much like the selective deregulation arguments I see about this. It’s not fair, so many say, to cap salaries or bonuses. Yeah, true. But you aren’t complaining about the renewability of contracts and the general market prohibitions prior to six years of service time. In fact, most of you love that stuff. The entire structure of the league turns on those regulations. And what’s fair about those rules that would not be fair about a salary cap?

The answer is “nothing”. So while I’m not in favor of salary limits, the fairness argument against them can’t be used by anyone who doesn’t object to those regulations which have the same effects.

Although, I am realistic and I know that won’t happen. It probably would destroy all chances of small market competition.

And you don’t need to be totally one way or the other. (Like in politics there are left-leaning Republicans and vice versa) Just because I am against incentive based contract deals that are forced upon draftees by the league (instead of being agreed upon by both parties), doesn’t mean that I have to support full deregulation.

Although, I am realistic and I know that won’t happen. It probably would destroy all chances of small market competition.

And you don’t need to be totally one way or the other. (Like in politics there are left-leaning Republicans and vice versa) Just because I am against incentive based contract deals that are forced upon draftees by the league (instead of being agreed upon by both parties), doesn’t mean that I have to support full deregulation.

“The answer is “nothing”. So while I’m not in favor of salary limits, the fairness argument against them can’t be used by anyone who doesn’t object to those regulations which have the same effects. ”

That is a lot of negatives, but I would have to say that (after figuring out exactly what you were saying) I agree with you, and I’m also not in favor of salary restrictions. The only reason that would justify players being paid less is if ticket/concession/parking prices go down as well and the overall revenue stream of baseball decreases, which would obviously never happen.

“The answer is “nothing”. So while I’m not in favor of salary limits, the fairness argument against them can’t be used by anyone who doesn’t object to those regulations which have the same effects. ”

That is a lot of negatives, but I would have to say that (after figuring out exactly what you were saying) I agree with you, and I’m also not in favor of salary restrictions. The only reason that would justify players being paid less is if ticket/concession/parking prices go down as well and the overall revenue stream of baseball decreases, which would obviously never happen.

I agree with you, I think that after this season Pettitte will retire, Vazquez will walk and Cashman will fill one spot with a FA (most likely Lee) and one internally, most likely Joba. I still think Joba can be a solid MOR starter in the AL East.

i think he has the potential to be the second starter at the top of his career. I think he can be better than burnett. Lets not forget joba is still pretty young. If he develops a changeup and or a cutter like hughes did, he can be very good. Hopefully with all the time in the pen a little bit of mo’s magic can rub off on him.

Wouldn’t that be something, Mariano teaching his insanely devastating cutter to all the youngsters. Anyway, yeah Joba probably has the potential to be better than A.J., I just think that all this jerking around between starting and relieving is gonna mess with his confidence, hopefully he can overcome it and be a solid #2 behind Phil. Wouldn’t that be crazy, the Yankees top 2 starting pitchers being homegrown youngsters. I can dream I suppose.

realistically, i think that’s probably more likely. What i want them to do is send him down to the minors next season. If he came back as a starter with control and command of all his pitches that would be great.

Of course he’s more likely to become the future closer, I’m just hoping that he is able to develop into a #2/3 because I think there’s more value in ~190 IP. I think he’ll be given another chance to be a starter and if he is mediocre or worse, then he’ll probably just become the heir apparent to Rivera.

Of course he’s more likely to become the future closer, I’m just hoping that he is able to develop into a #2/3 because I think there’s more value in ~190 IP. I think he’ll be given another chance to be a starter and if he is mediocre or worse, then he’ll probably just become the heir apparent to Rivera.

Wouldn’t that be something, Mariano teaching his insanely devastating cutter to all the youngsters. Anyway, yeah Joba probably has the potential to be better than A.J., I just think that all this jerking around between starting and relieving is gonna mess with his confidence, hopefully he can overcome it and be a solid #2 behind Phil. Wouldn’t that be crazy, the Yankees top 2 starting pitchers being homegrown youngsters. I can dream I suppose.

i think he has the potential to be the second starter at the top of his career. I think he can be better than burnett. Lets not forget joba is still pretty young. If he develops a changeup and or a cutter like hughes did, he can be very good. Hopefully with all the time in the pen a little bit of mo’s magic can rub off on him.

I agree with you, I think that after this season Pettitte will retire, Vazquez will walk and Cashman will fill one spot with a FA (most likely Lee) and one internally, most likely Joba. I still think Joba can be a solid MOR starter in the AL East.